What are deserialization attacks and their impact?

What are deserialization attacks and their impact?

Deserialization attacks occur when an attacker manipulates serialized data to execute malicious code. This can lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, or even complete system compromise.

Can you give me an example of how a deserialization attack might happen?

Sure! For instance, if an application deserializes user input without proper validation, an attacker could send a crafted payload that executes arbitrary code on the server.

What can developers do to prevent these attacks?

Developers can prevent deserialization attacks by implementing strict input validation, using safe serialization libraries, and avoiding the use of native serialization formats.

Are there any real-world cases of deserialization attacks?

Yes, one notable case was the 2015 attack on the popular Java framework, where attackers exploited deserialization vulnerabilities to gain control over servers.